Chevrolet Camaro conversions

Melbourne-based right-hand drive conversion company, the Corvette Clinic, is about to start work converting the new Chevrolet Camaro for an eager local audience.

Company owner, Peter Whiston, says his first Camaro - a range-topping 2SS V8 - is on the water and due in Melbourne in weeks. "We have quite a few interested people keen to get one," he says.

With the Holden Monaro gone, Whiston reckons the Camaro will slide right in for those buyers looking for a high-performance General Motors two-door V8 coupe.

Whiston says he will concentrate on converting the luxury V8 models only. "I really don't think there would be a market for the V6," he says. "However, if someone wanted one we'd probably do it."

The 2SS sells for just over $35,000 in California but landed here and with all the engineering work required to convert it to right-hand drive, including the new dashboard, Whiston expects to sell the cars for between $130,000 and $140,000. At that price, he says people are still queueing up. The rear-drive 2SS gets a 6.2-litre V8 that develops 318kW/569Nm in a power package that almost goes toe-to-toe with the HSV GTS.

The car gets standard Bluetooth, leather upholstery, Boston Acoustics stereo and climate control air conditioning.

Despite its underpinnings being based on the VE Commodore and sharing the same V6 and V8 engines, Whiston says the Camaro uses a different steering rack as well as heating and ventilation systems. "From a conversion point of view, there is really little interchangeable between the Commodore and Camaro," he says.

Whiston is confident he will have the small, but lucrative, Camaro business to himself for the time being. However, GM's vehicle line executive in charge of global rear-wheel-drive vehicles, Gene Stefanyshyn remains a big enthusiast for a right-hand drive version of the muscle car.

In an interview with Carsguide earlier this year he said getting the Camaro to Australia was not a lost cause. However, building volume right-hand drive versions would cost about $35 million to engineer.

Given General Motors’ financial situation and the global economy, a right-hooker Camaro remains a low priority. The Camaro has been a welcomed hit for downtrodden General Motors in the US.More than 80,000 are expected to be sold this year and order banks are growing for next year.

You asked for it. So Carsguide has obliged. We have received more than 200 requests from readers to bring the Camaro to Australia. So we've handed on all your letters and thoughts to GM-Holden chairman Alan Batey. We'll keep you posted on how the campaign goes.